“Oh my gosh, Dax!” I whispered, relief evident in my voice. I’d never been so happy in my life to see someone. “How are you here? How did you know?” I asked as he stepped into the light. He was wearing all black, his shirt standing out with a red skull on it. For the first time since I met him, he donned a serious look on his face.
“I’ll tell you later. Right now I have to get rid of this Umbra,” he whispered.
I mouthed ‘Umbra’ to myself, trying to pronounce it like he did. What did it mean? The screeching intensified above us, making me shrink into the dirt even more, trying to hide from the moonlight.
“Your scream alerted it to where you are. Not an exact location, but it will eventually find you and try to kill you.”
I shuddered at his honesty.
“But I won’t let that happen, of course. I’ll help you get rid of it.” He glanced back at me and gave me his signature smile. I smiled back, grateful for his presence. He started walking forward, standing directly in the moonlight. His head tilted to the side.
“Okay, it’s almost time. I’m going to need you to grab onto my shoulders.” He told me. Placing my hands on his shoulders, he reached back and patted them, securing them both on his shoulders. “You’re going to need both hands because you could fall from what I’m about to do.” He warned, patting my hands again.
“What are you about t—” my scream was lost in the wind as Dax jumped in the air quickly, making me lose my breath as well. He landed next to the hole, and I let go of his shoulders, trying to catch my breath. The world spun in a circle, and the trees started disappearing, the sky coming in my main line of vision.
“Whoa!” Dax grabbed my arm and yanked me forward, saving me from falling back into the hole. “Are you good?”
I stretched my arms out at my sides, making sure I was balanced. Once the world stopped spinning, I nodded and slowed my breathing back to normal. “I’m good, sorry. You just caught me off guard with the jumping,” I finally answered, out of breath.
He chuckled and glanced around. “Sorry about that. I forgot that you don’t have your memories, so you’re not used to the speed anymore.” He looked around again, and I inched closer to him. It was eerily quiet. The shadow was nowhere to be found.
“Um, is it normal for the shadow to just leave, you know, from boredom or something?” I whispered to Dax, hoping that was the case.
He shook his head and pressed a finger to his lips, quietly walking away from the hole. I followed behind him just as quietly, with no clue as to where we were going. He weaved through the trees speedily, and I had to catch his arm and hold on to it when he started going faster. He didn’t slow down, the trees starting to blur.
“Dax, where are we going?” I whispered. He stopped, and I bent down, catching my breath. I was so winded, I just wanted to go home at this point.
“I needed us to get as far away from the hole as possible in a short amount of time, so I could set everything up.” He lifted his shirt, revealing a fanny pack. He unzipped it and took out two vials, one filled with a blue liquid, the other filled with a purple liquid.
“What are those for?” I asked as he closed his eyes. He didn’t answer me, and his lips started moving quickly like he was reciting something. His eyes snapped open, and he took the corks off both of them, spilling the liquids on the ground. I gasped as the colors moved on the ground, worming its way into a perfect circle around both of us, creating a magenta color.
A terrible screech filled the air, and I flinched. It was so loud, I almost had to cover my ears. Dax looked around, his face getting serious. Strong winds blew the trees, leaves snapping off branches from the force. My hair blew in the wind, making me regret not putting it back into a ponytail when I had time.
“Back up just a little bit, Meadow,” Dax whispered, and I stepped back, making sure I was still in the circle. I slowed my breathing so that I could calm down and hear my surroundings better. “Here we go.” Dax’s eyes were frantic, making me a little anxious. The screech filled the air again, this time so loud, I had to cover my ears. A ringing sound filled my head and gave me a slight headache. The shadow was a few feet away, hovering in the air, unmoving.
I inched closer to Dax, not sure what to expect. “What is it doing?” I whispered, keeping my eyes on the shadow.
“It’s scoping out the area, trying to see what the best way would be to attack us,” he answered, searching in his fanny pack.
“Then why aren’t we running?”
“Because it can’t get to us,” he explained, still searching.
Another screech filled the air, and a small yelp left my lips. The shadow raced our way with so much speed, I started backing up, not sure I trusted what Dax said about it not being able to get to us. The shadow roared, and I covered my face, waiting for impact. There was a crash, but I felt nothing.
Opening my eyes, I dropped my arms, and my mouth followed. The shadow was being blocked by some invisible barrier. I looked down and saw that the magenta circle was glowing. Dax was grinning at the shadow, standing in front of it, unflinching. Whatever he did was working.
“How is this possible?” I didn’t see anything in front or around us, only a little ripple when the shadow hit the barrier, trying to get through.
“The two potions, mixed together, create a forcefield for whoever is standing in the circle.” He explained, pulling a pouch out of his fanny pack. “Ha! Found it!” Dax parted the circle with his foot, the magenta color disappearing. The only things there now were the dirt and grass. “Now, this will make it disappear. All you have to do is throw the powder at it.”
The circle turned magenta again around me. He took a step forward, but he was yanked to the side before he could take another.
I gasped as Dax hit a tree, the small pouch leaving his hand. The shadow turned its attention to Dax, slowly making its way to him.
“Dax, throw me the pouch!” I yelled at him, and he jumped up. He hurried and grabbed it from the ground, tossing it my way. I caught it and dumped the powder in my hand and stepped outside the barrier, exposing myself.
The Umbra faced me and screeched, expanding as it prepared to engulf me. I tossed the yellow powder in the air, every single particle clinging to the shadow.
“Cover your ears, Meadow!” Dax shouted, and I slapped my hands over my ears. The screech was deafening. The shadow exploded, and the screeching stopped, gray particles dropping to the ground. I dropped my arms and stared at Dax with wide eyes, my mouth open.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Dax asked, grinning like a birthday kid with his cake as he walked my way.
I nodded and placed a hand over my racing heart. My poor heart was going through it today.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Dax beckoned, and I followed him through the woods until we reached the highway. On the edge of the road sat a black Rubicon, blending in with the night. I couldn’t even admire it or get my brain to form any questions right now, I was so drained. I hopped in the passenger’s seat and buckled up, getting comfortable.
Dax got in the driver’s seat and started the car, driving away from the woods. It was quiet during the first few minutes of the drive as I tried to form questions to ask. I think Dax was giving me some space to process, and I was grateful for that.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I asked, realizing I never told him where I was going, yet he was driving confidently.
“I do. You’re going to see Augustus, the scientist,” he answered, glancing at me.
My mouth was slightly open, I was confused. “How do you know? And how did you know where I was?” I asked, furrowing my brow.
He sighed and twisted his lip, seemed to be thinking about how to answer my questions. “Well, I went tracking with Rita and Axel, and Dmitri came later. I was done before everyone else, so I decided to come back and see how you were doing. I heard you talking to yourself about Augustus, and then you left in a car. So I followed you,” he explained, and I closed my mouth, slo
wly shaking my head.
“I guess that makes sense. Thank you for helping me.” I playfully punched his arm, and he laughed, shaking his head at me.
“Don’t worry about it. What are friends for?” He wiggled his eyebrows, making me burst out in loud laughs. Him saying that made me think of another question.
“So, when I get my memories back, will you be in them?” I asked, gauging his reaction.
He smiled softly and nodded. “I will definitely be in a lot of them because we are the best of friends. We’ve been through a lot together, and we’re basically inseparable.” He sounded proud, and I smiled. No wonder we seemed to click so easily.
“Okay, I think that’s all the questions I have for now. My brain can’t possibly process anything else at the moment.” I sighed into the seat. We both were quiet, and he turned on some music. Classical, very relaxing. I stared out of the window and thought about the questions I planned on asking Augustus.
The main one that lingered was who am I?
16
“Wake up, Meadow. We’re here.” Dax’s voice flowed through my ears.
I opened my eyes slowly, squinting at my surroundings. I was in the vehicle with Dax in the driver’s seat, a worried look on his face. Everything rushed back as soon as I shook off the sleepy state I was in.
“You okay? We don’t have to go in if you’re not comfortable.”
I shook my head, unbuckling my seatbelt. “I’m fine, just a little shaken up from the Umbra, but I need this.”
He nodded at me, turning off the jeep. As I stepped out of the vehicle, I stretched as I scoped out the area. It was still dark, but a building in the middle of the field stood out.
It was six stories high, small and rectangular, with a small triangle shape at the very top. The only light I saw was on what looked like the sixth floor, and the light was flickering like a candle.
“Is this where he is really located? This place is in the middle of nowhere,” I whispered to Dax as we walked to the building.
“Yeah, he likes to conduct experiments—dangerous ones—so he needed a place to do that,” Dax explained.
Interesting.
We made it to the building and stepped inside, a cold draft hitting us right away. I shivered and rubbed my arms as we walked through the foyer.
I thought the building was an office of some sort, but the inside was like a house. It was dark on this floor, but I could still see part of what looked like two red couches to my left and a massive bookcase filled with books to my right.
“Come on. He’s always on the sixth floor,” Dax told me, and I followed him, taking the spiral stairs in front of us. So I was right about the light on the sixth floor. I quietly congratulated myself on accurately guessing that. We walked up all six flights of stairs until we made it to a large door, the only entry on the floor.
“Can’t he invest in an elevator?” I complained, reaching down to rub my sore calves. Dax gave me a side glance and smiled, shaking his head. I shook my head back at him.
There were two old but well-polished knobs on the door, and Dax turned both of them and let go. The door split in half, revealing an expansive office. As I stepped in, I realized it was more like a lab than an office.
More like half lab, half office. There was a massive black and white painting of an older man with glasses on, donning a serious look. He had a large, long beard, and his hair looked like it went past his shoulders, down his back. There were plush lounge chairs littered around the room, and bookcases stuffed with books covered every inch of the office walls.
Massive volumes. Not one book looked like it was smaller than 700 pages. The only space without a bookcase was a table with a maroon, silky tablecloth on the back wall. On the tablecloth sat different sized flasks and tubes, each filled with different colored liquids. On a separate shelf above the table were additional items, weapons it looked like as I got closer.
All of them were in square glass cases to protect them or show them off, I wasn’t sure which one. What stood out to me was that all of the weapons were a beautiful teal color, like the daggers. Golden flecks dotted each weapon differently, also like the daggers. What were these weapons? I reached up to touch the glass case, but a deep, accented voice stopped me.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the voice warned. He sounded British, maybe Irish? I wasn’t good at figuring out accents. I turned around slowly, and the beaded curtains by one of the bookcases, which I’d thought were only decoration, parted to reveal the old man from the painting.
He was wearing a long golden robe that covered his feet. The robe had sleeves that reached his hands, wide and trailing down, almost reaching the ground. Blue accents were sewn on the robe, most of the blue color on the sleeves’ ends. The robe wasn’t the thing that stood out the most, though.
His hair was a beautiful teal color and curly, going all the way down his back just like I thought. His magenta beard reached down to the middle of his robe. His left eye matched the teal of his hair, and his right eye the magenta of his beard. The colors went perfectly with his brown skin. He had reading glasses perched on his nose with golden circular frames. I’d never met someone as colorful as he was. I liked it a lot.
“Hello there, Meadow. Since you were about to touch glass laced with a paralytic, I can only assume that your memories are no longer in that little brain of yours.” Augustus spoke, making me like his style less. Little brain?
“How do you know who I am?” I walked toward him slowly.
Dax appeared by my side, crossing his arms over his chest.
Augustus’ eyes flickered to Dax and then back to me. “I know of everyone in this realm, miss. Whether they are aware of who I am or not. It is my job.” He yanked gently at the sides of his glasses, and the frames split down the middle. He brought them back together around his neck, and the frames lost their shape, making the lenses disappear. The glasses weren’t there anymore. It was now a golden necklace. I glanced at Dax to see if he witnessed what I saw, but the look on his face told me that he was used to it. I was the only one surprised. It was a neat trick.
“It’s just science, deary. No need for the astounded look on your face,” Augustus chastised, and I furrowed my brow. Who did this man think he was? Before I could say anything smart back, he turned his attention to Dax. “Ah, hello, young man. I see you defeated the Umbra since you are standing in my presence.” He started walking to the tables with colored liquids.
“I did, no thanks to you. A little warning that he was coming would’ve been nice,” Dax said icily. His tone shocked me. I’d never heard Dax even remotely get mad. He didn’t seem to like this man, and I was starting to see why.
Augustus chuckled and faced us again, a humorous look on his face. “Young man, I look out for only myself. He came to me with an offer I couldn’t turn down, so of course I helped him.” He smiled, and I swear his teeth glittered from how shiny white they were.
“I thought you were supposed to be good. I read the letters you sent to my mom,” I spoke up, seeing that Dax was getting really upset. I wanted him to be calm so he wouldn’t do anything to the man that might be the key to me getting my memories back. Augustus may be old, but I felt like he could probably do some real damage if he wanted to. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.
“Your mother?” he asked, a confused look on his face.
“Yes, my mom? Maze? I thought you knew everyone in your little realm.”
His face relaxed, and a small smile formed. “Ah, yes. Maze, beautiful woman. I am what you call an opportunist. Whatever benefits me, I take it. That is the only way to survive in this world, especially for someone like me.” He smiled again, but it seemed fake, not really reaching his eyes like his last smile.
“Do you know Caspian?” I asked since he seemed to know everyone.
He shrugged, turning back to his flasks. “Not really. We only made a one-time deal, which is why I knew he would attack you tonight.” His casual admission made me ga
sp.
“That was Caspian?” I gritted my teeth. “How is that possible?” I curled my fists, my fingers digging hard into my palms. How was he always one step ahead?
“It was because he wa—” Dax started.
“Uh, uh. Let the expert explain, please.” Augustus basically sneered at Dax before turning back to me. “What attacked you tonight was an Umbra. It is a shadow that vampires can project and send anywhere they desire. Only those with extensive training know how to properly project.” He paused and turned, grabbing something from a drawer on his right, and turned back around. In his hand was a small cloth bag, just like the one Dax had earlier. “The only way to stop an Umbra is with this powder that I created. Saeclum is what I call it.” He tipped the bag, and the yellow powder spilled out onto his hand.
“Wait, you created that?” I asked, in awe.
“That is what I just said. I create most of the potions, powders, and elements that the creatures of my realm use.” He looked at Dax for confirmation. He rolled his eyes and nodded at Augustus, confirming. Augustus smiled in triumph and marched past us toward the lounge chairs. He gestured to the space in front of him. “Join me. I am sure you didn’t travel all this way to speak about the Umbra.”
I paused, glancing at Dax. He didn’t look like he wanted to move at all. I started walking toward the chairs first, and Dax slowly followed behind me. I sat in the long chair in front of Augustus, sinking into the lush fabric. For a vampire, Dax walked extremely slow, and I waited until he was finally sitting before I asked my first question.
“Since you seem to know who I am, that means you know what I am, correct?” I fiddled with my thumbs as I thought about how tired I was of asking the same question.
Augustus sat back into his chair and folded his hands. “That is indeed correct, Meadow,” he said simply. Of course, he was the type that answered only the questions asked, not insinuated.
“What am I?” I asked more directly.
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